Pharmacy and Medications

Spasfon (Phloroglucinol) for Spasm

12/09/2010

Question:

Dear experts,

Do you have any pharmaceutical information about the above medicine? It is widely available in France and European countries but it seems that this substance is used in printing industry rather than for medicinal reason.

Answer:

Phloroglucinol is not available in the United States. It acts as a weak anticholinergic agent that relaxes the smooth muscle in the ureter and biliary tract. Because of this activity, it has some applications in treating irritable bowel syndrome and bladder spasms. Many of the studies reviewing use of phloroglucinol are several decades old.

There are many newer more effective treatments for the above indications currently available, which may explain why it is not something that has been pursued by manufacturers here in the United States. Phloroglucinol is also an organic compound that can be used in various chemical applications. One is in printing, as you mentioned. It also appears to have some use as a reagent in the synthesis of other pharmaceutical products.

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